I'll give a few thoughts. I learned by attending the local orchid society. There may be one near you. There is too much to say in this space and I also have poor typing skills.
In general, orchids should be planted on the potting material, not in it. The orchid is not happy if it wobbles in the pot. Don't keep turning the pot. The orchid knows where the light source. Let it decide.

THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL GROWING ORCHIDS. People grow orchids successfully in a variety of ways. I am heavy handed with the hose. So I use a lot less sphagnum moss than others. I use a lot of lava rock and cork boards.

ORCHIDS ARE EASY BUT DIFFERENT. Their demands are usually modest but one must read and talk about the many issues. But basically study about water, air movement, food,(supplements too) temperatures, and light. Try to visualize an orchid in nature. Give yours much the same. I don't grow cold loving orchids. I live in south Florida.

KNOW THE LOCALS. Your efforts will be swayed by your climate. Mine is different than yours. I'd be lost in Kansas. But the locals know.

And there are micro climes. Move an orchid a few feet and everything could change. Maybe. It could be good to bad or bad to good, but every now and then it could matter.

Frequently but not always, orchids thrive on abuse...

Good luck but be careful. Meetings start out, "Hello, my name is shaved monkey and I'm an orcoholic"

You've been bitten.

Whoa! Now you've put me back into the intimidation corner! ha ha ha!

Great idea! I'll look for a local orchid organization! I just hope I am able to find one.

I watered the oncidiums, and it's definitely potted in something as the pots are now heavy! I watered until water dripped out of the holes on the bottom. um...maybe that wasn't such a good idea? I was hoping that the wrinkles would flatten out and they haven't...

Thanks shaved monkey! Wish me luck! :)

You watered correctly. The wrinkles will stay. If you do it right the new bulbs won't be wrinkled. What is the potting material?
Check with the AOS, (American Orchid Society) Most local societies are affiliated. Find their website to look up your local society. If it is too far get phone numbers to ask if there is any members living in your area.

Keep the oncidiums in the brightest light, the phal a little less. The phal will probably outgrow the pot fairly quickly, as teacup phals are usually regular phals forced to bloom early, usually...

As far as watering, water heavily (water dripping out of bottom) when the pots/media seem dry. That is the real trick usually, correct watering of orchids. In general, once a week for windowsill orchids. If they are in spaghnum moss, its a little longer in between waterings. These orchids do like to dry out slightly between waterings to keep some air flowing around the roots.

Good luck,

Bob

I'm not familiar with potting mediums. My guess is that it's spaghnum peat moss since they became heavy as I watered, with very little coming out the bottom compared to how much I poured. This makes me nervous. Too much water on their roots? I'll take a look later and maybe try to post a pic?

I moved the oncidiums to a brighter location where they will receive some full sun. Will that be alright? My house faces south, and they are now in the foyer where it stays bright all day, but as the sun moves, they will receive some direct sun in the afternoon. I left the moth orchid in the northeast corner.

We have a local orchid society! The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City. They even have a Facebook page! I haven't had a chance to contact them, but will soon.

I don't have a green thumb. I don't kill everything, but I've not been good with high humidity plants such as ferns and caladiums, which I have killed, nor can I get flowering plants to flower. I haven't given up, yet...along with the orchids, I bought maiden hair ferns, a caladium and gerbera daisies in bloom as well as many other plants. It's winter here, and I needed some cheery plants. I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew? Lol

I hope my orchids don't die or suffer under my care! I need lots of luck! ;)

I think you are on the right track. Sphagnum holds the most water. So wait a week or so to add water. Plastic pots hold water longer than terra cotta pots.

There will be a lot to learn from the local society. Big benefit.

If you ate not killing a few plants you are not trying hard enough. Meaning that you are staying in an easy comfort zone and not trying outside the box. I got a lot of dog tags from plants that are gone...

Just a thought, I would move the oncidiums out of the moss. They have fine roots and I've found mine to rot fairly easily. A little bit is good, a lot is bad, though I'm not in as cold an area as you, maybe they need the extra humidity.

Just a note, sphagnum and peat aren't the same thing. Normally it wouldn't matter that much but I bought an orchid mix that said 'sphagnum peat moss' on it and it was more like dirt, not like sphagnum.